In Réunion Island, the Indian Ocean Civil Aviation Safety Directorate (DSAC OI) has launched a project to assess the SafeSky application, aiming to improve airspace safety.
Unique Challenges in Réunion Island's Air Safety.
Pilots in Réunion Island face a range of safety challenges due to diverse activities such as tourism, aerial work, and recreation. Multiple aircraft of different classes coexist in the airspace. Additionally, the shared use of air routes, especially along the coastline and over the cirques and volcanoes, adds complexity to aircraft movement.
Moreover, traffic information sources are limited, relying primarily on radio communications which become challenging as pilots move away from the coast due to geographical factors, thereby compromising safety.
Experimental Project with SafeSky.
SafeSky is not new to Réunion Island. Available since 2021 and a sponsor of the 2022 "Tour de l'Île en ULM," SafeSky has successfully demonstrated its system's functionality, even in remote areas. Building on this positive experience, the sponsorship has been renewed for the 2023 edition.
In collaboration with DSAC OI, an experimental project has been initiated to encourage all pilots, clubs, and aviation associations to use the SafeSky application. This project aims to evaluate the app's capabilities in relation to Réunion Island's complexity. The experiment, which began on October 14 and spans three months, provides pilots with the opportunity to share their experiences via a dedicated forum, ensuring continuous feedback and user experience optimisation. SafeSky will map the effectiveness of its usage in different geographic areas of the island, ensuring user anonymity.
To support pilots in this adoption, SafeSky offers comprehensive assistance, including video tutorials, detailed manuals, and interactive webinars to help them become familiar with the application.
Just the Beginning.
At the end of this experimental period, DSAC OI will analyse the gathered data and draw conclusions. If the results are positive, DSAC OI will schedule a meeting with all users to discuss the application's added value.
During this user meeting, discussions will also focus on the implementation of ground stations capable of capturing radio signal-emitting traffic (ADS-B, FLARM, OGN, etc.). This will ensure complete coverage and enhanced safety for all flights.
Tristan FILY, CEO of SafeSky: "We firmly believe that this initiative marks the beginning of a safer era for aviation in Réunion and will be a motivating project that will have a snowball effect in mainland France and Europe."
Arroquidasse ZEMBOULINGAME, Head of ANA Division, DSAC: "I am eagerly anticipating the analysis of the experimental data, and I am convinced that SafeSky will bring us some surprises."
Heatmap of SafeSky Traffic in Réunion Island on October 19th 2023 (the darker, the more traffic), showing the air traffic concentration along the coast line. Source: SafeSky.